Stop the Hate(r) Youth Speak Out is a personal essay contest with the chance to win individual scholarship money for college (schools also receive money for anti-bias education when their students win). By challenging young people to consider the benefits of a more inclusive society, the consequences of intolerance, and the role of personal responsibility in effecting change, the Maltz Museum’s Stop the Hate(r) contest also reflects Jewish values of responsible citizenship and respect for all humanity.

Each year, through the generosity of a donor, the Maltz Museum gives out $100,000 in scholarships, awards, and support for anti-bias education in recognition of 6-12th grade upstanders from throughout Northeast Ohio. In 2018, the amount awarded to students and schools participating in Stop the Hate(r) will total $1 million. An estimated 30,000 students have participated in the last ten years.

 

The top 25 finalists for 2018 Stop the Hate(r) Youth Speak Out are:

Top 10 Juniors & Seniors, competing for grand prize of $40,000 in scholarship money:

Tadj Adams, grade 11/age 16 Hawken School

John Kunzo, grade 12/age 17 Gilmour Academy

Megan Lebowitz, grade 12/age 17, Solon High School

Peyton Lunder, grade 12/age 17, Padua Franciscan High School

Julia Mayer, grade 12/age 17, Solon High School

Dahlia Moskowitz, grade 11/age 17, Fuchs Mizrachi

Hailey Nudelman, grade 12/age 17, Twinsburg High School

Schuyler Radivoyevitch, grade 11/age 17, Cleveland Heights High School

Hannah Shuffer, grade 11/age 16, Orange High School

Maria Zou, grade 12/age 17, Hudson High School

Grades 6-10 competing for $400 awards, by grade:

 

6th grade
Flannery Costello, grade 6/age 11, Rocky River Middle School

Isabella Kovacs, grade 6/age 12, Rocky River Middle School

Scott O’Neill, grade 6/age 11, Newton D Baker

 

7th grade
Maggie Chen, grade 7/age 13, Memorial Middle School

Rebecca Lawton, grade 7/age 12, Beachwood Middle School

Jennifer Williams, grade 7/age 13, Old Trail Elementary

8th grade
Alexandra Holtz, grade 8 /age 13, Chagrin Falls Middle School

Elana Rouse, grade 8 /age 14, Rocky River Middle School

Bowen Zhang, grade 8 /age 13, Beachwood Middle School

 

9th grade
Jonah Gilbert, grade 9 /age 14, University School

Cara Finnegan, grade 9 /age 15, Elyria Catholic High

Rileyanna Karic, grade 9/age 14, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High

 

10th grade
Emi Cummings, grade 10/age 15, Laurel High School

Anaya Hunter, grade 10 /age 16, Whitney Young High School

Sabriya Zaman, grade 10/age 15, Solon High School

 

This year’s judges for the 10th anniversary ceremony include: Toni Baker, MSM, PNC; Tai-Chi Chan, Lubrizol; Jessica Cohen, Jewish Federation of Cleveland; James Gutierrez, MD, FACP, Cleveland Clinic; Eduardo Kim, Thompson Hine; George Koussa, Margaret Wong & Associates; Monyka Price, City of Cleveland; Cecilia Render, Nordson Corporation Foundation; Phyllis Harris, LBGT Center of Greater Cleveland; Cynthia Norwood, The ARC Greater Cleveland.

 

The scholarship winners will be named live at the award ceremony on April 29.

The award ceremony is free and open to the public. The event beings at 4PM on April 29 and will be held at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Registrations are encouraged to guarantee seating. For more information or to register, 216.593.0575 or maltzmuseum.org